Wow! What a week coming up in the NFL, filled with intriguing matches between quality teams. One after another, there seem to be huge games with simply enormous ramifications to them. Playoff contenders and division leaders matching up against one another. I do not remember such a single weekend filled with what seem to be feature matches before, and I have been following football now for decades!
Let's take a look:
Buffalo at Miami - The Bills have dominated the Dolphins as of late. But this game is in Miami, and ill be nationally televised. Both teams lost last weekend, and both really need this win. The winner will be in sole possession of second place, with a chance to try and close in on the Patriots, if they happen to lose to the Colts this Sunday night. The loser, on the other hand, will have lost two games in a row, and dug themselves into a pretty deep hole from which they might not fully emerge again. The stakes could not be higher. My pick: Buffalo
San Francisco at NY Giants - These two teams share a stories rivalry that, I believe, is one of the most underrated in the NFL. I remember when these two teams used to be the top dogs, and everyone was anticipating a match up between them. That is not so much the case this season. More on all of that between these two teams later, in a soon to be published blog here. The Giants have lost four in a row, and desperately need to win a game and snap the streak. The 49ers have been disappointing at times so far also, but got a huge road win in tough circumstances last weekend against New Orleans. As a Giants fan, I would love to predict the Giants. But when I ask myself who the better team is right now? No question. My pick: San Francisco
Cincinnati at New Orleans - Both teams are coming off huge losses at home, and need to bounce back this weekend, but only one will. The Bengals are kind of a tricky team to predict anything with this season. But if there is one trend that they seem to follow, it is that they are not that great of a road team, and New Orleans is a tough place to play. I like the Saints to straighten out the errors and come up with a big win in this one! My pick: New Orleans
Seattle at Kansas City - A battle of two 6-3 teams, and how intriguing is this? The Chiefs are red hot, having won 6 of their last 7 games, and they are particularly tough at home! The Seahawks have suffered some losses that make you scratch your head a bit, but they have played very well the last couple of weeks, and seem to be coming on again! What a game this should be! But with home field advantage, the Chiefs will be tough to beat, and I am willing to bet they will be just too tough for Seattle. My pick: Kansas City
Denver at St Louis - Not one of the better games this weekend. The Broncos are clearly the better team all in all, and unless they screw up or have a let down, which is not something that they are known for the last few seasons, then this should be a win, even if it proves a tough one. The Rams really are just overmatched, and I do not foresee an upset win, like they had a couple of times earlier this season against the Seahawks and the 49ers. My pick: Denver
Atlanta at Carolina - These two teams both desperately need this win. The Panthers have been ice cold as of late, while the Falcons just came off a big, and much needed, win. But the Panthers at least have home field advantage. The question is, how much will that mean? They are coming off an embarrassing blowout loss at Philly, and will try and remedy mistakes to come back big. Will they? My pick: Atlanta
Tampa Bay at Washington - Again, this one is not one of the more intriguing matches this weekend. Both teams are struggling, and largely out of the playoff picture. But someone has to win. If this were in Tampa, I think the Bucs might stand a real chance. But it should be cold in Washington, and the Bucs will likely struggle, again. My pick: Washington
Houston at Cleveland - Cleveland is red hot right now, one of the hottest teams in the league. For the time being, they are in sole possession of first place, and this is certainly not a game that they can afford to overlook. Houston was looking pretty solid themselves earlier in the season, but they have cooled down considerably. They might have some tough resistance, but they are not strong enough road warriors that pulling this off would seem likely. Browns have too much defense, and home field should prove decisive. My pick: Cleveland
Minnesota at Chicago - The two bottom teams in the NFC North. But someone has to win. The Vikings want an important divisional road win, and the Bears just want to end their dreadful losing streak and get back to winning. Only one of those things can happen, however. But I suspect that the Bears, wanting to put the memory of being humiliated at Lambeau Field behind them, will straighten up and put things right enough to score a big win at Soldier Field. My pick: Chicago
Oakland at San Diego - Not one of the more intriguing games this weekend. San Diego has really struggled, and they desperately need to get a win to end their horrendous, and poorly timed, losing streak that knocked them from elite status and tied for first, to their present position of bordering on irrelevancy. But a home game against Oakland should do the trick, and right their ship. Poor Raiders have one tough game after another, and this should be yet another in a long string of losses for them. My pick: San Diego
Philadelphia at Green Bay - Two teams that are serious playoff contenders, and playing like it. The Eagles looked awesome in taking apart the Panthers, but that was a weak opponent. Playing the Packers at Lambeau Field in mid-November? Totally different story. Rodgers was hot last week, but that was against a weak Chicago defense. The Eagles should prove tougher. A lot of intriguing story lines and questions here. But when it all comes down to it, it is hard to go against the home team. My pick: Green Bay
Detroit at Arizona - Another incredible match up between two of the surprise division leaders so far this season. Detroit keeps winning tight games, but they keep winning. Arizona is sporting the best record in the league at 8-1, but they do not have Palmer (or do they?). The Lions are pretty solid on defense themselves this season, and their offense, despite lapses, can still potentially be explosive, under the right circumstances, although I doubt that these will be the right circumstances. The Cardinals have been particularly tough in Arizona, and that should play a factor in this very interesting game. Tough one to pick, and whoever comes out of this will have earned a statement win! My pick: Arizona
New England at Indianapolis - Yet another feature match, with two of the top teams in the AFC, two division leaders. If this were in New England, I would put my money on the Pats, and they scored a blowout win against the Colts there in last season's playoffs. But the Colts have revenge on their mind, plus home field advantage should help tremendously. Still, it is Belichick and Brady, and they just might pull something solid for this game. Both teams have been red hot lately, and want to keep up their strong momentum. Very important mid-season showdown, and somebody has to lose! My pick: Indianapolis
Pittsburgh at Tennessee - Of all the games to end such a great and electrifying weekend of football with, this one is a dud. At least the Titans have home field advantage, otherwise they would likely have no chance. But home field is the only advantage that I see for them. The Steelers are a winning football team this season, and coming off a letdown loss against the Jets, they need to bounce back strong. The Titans, admittedly, are a great team to do that against. My pick: Pittsburgh
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